SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Dell
has announced investigation into its e-waste management policy, after a Basel
action Network (BAN) report identified Dell being involved in illegal exports of
electronic waste to other countries, where they are treated in unethical
ways.

Dell spokesperson applauded BAN’s efforts to
address the challenges faced by the electronics recycling industry. The
allegations will be taken seriously as it is a clear violation of Dell’s
Electronic Disposition Policy, she noted. The issue is being investigated and
actions would be taken to incorporate necessary steps in processes, she
added.

GPS Tracking

In a bid to track the e-waste from recycling
locations, BAN placed cell-phone sized GPS tracker devices to almost 200
non-functioning printers and monitors and dropped them at various locations
within the US during the second half of 2015. The organization has been tracking
these devices since then. Until now, 62 pieces of equipment have ended up in
countries where e-waste imports are banned by law. This equates to almost one
third of the total devices tracked during this period. The BAN report also
stated that most of these devices ended up in Hong Kong. It warned that more
devices could have been exported out of the US, but might not have been
accounted for due to technical issues such as reception issues, equipment
failure or damaged batteries.

Dell’s violation of
policy

According to BAN report, 46 out of the 200
tracker-attached electronic devices were delivered to Goodwill stores, with whom
Dell partners for recycling of electronics waste. Seven of these were later
traced in Asian countries including Thailand, China and Taiwan. Out of this, six
were part of Dell-Reconnect recycling partnership with Goodwill. Dell had long
been claiming that all the used electronics collected as part of the program
were recycled by Goodwill, thereby saving landfills from toxic waste. As per
company policy, all end-of-life electronics must be recycled within the US.
However, GPS Tracking revealed that the company was involved in exporting
e-waste to other countries, where there exists ban on e-waste imports.

Loss of reputation

BAN executive director Jim Puckett in a statement
noted that it was quite unfortunate and shocking to note that reputed firms like
Dell and Goodwill were involved in illegal e-waste exports out of the US. He
called for more transparency in their e-waste policies and urged them to
implement urgent changes in their e-waste management policies to ensure that
such incidents are never repeated. Surprisingly, Goodwill was found to have no
policy in place against exporting to developing countries.

Reality unveiled

The BAN investigation revealed that the tracked
equipment had travelled to 10 different countries including China, Taiwan,
Pakistan, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia and Kenya. However, most of the devices
ended up in Hong Kong’s New Territories region near the Chinese border. The
region comprises of so-called e-waste processing facilities where e-waste is
treated in the most unethical way. The hundreds of employees, mostly Chinese
with no valid stay documents, are exposed to toxic chemicals that pose serious
health risks. These facilities were found operating under dangerous
circumstances. Several fires were reported at junkyards where dumped waste was
being stored for dismantling.

Alarm bells

A recent report published by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) had noted that nearly 60% to 90% of the world’s
electronic waste are traded or dumped illegally. The report had stated that
Africa and Asia are the key destinations of hazardous electronic waste. Also,
the ‘Global Waste Management Outlook’ launched by UNEP in partnership with the
International Solid Waste Association had warned that waste volumes are likely
to double in lower-income Asian and African cities by 2030.

About BAN

Founded in 1997, the Basel Action Network is a
501(c)3 charitable organization of the United States, based in Seattle, WA. BAN
is the world's only organization focused on confronting the global environmental
justice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade and its devastating impacts.
Today, BAN serves as the information clearinghouse on the subject of waste trade
for journalists, academics, and the general public.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Dell
has announced investigation into its e-waste management policy, after a Basel
action Network (BAN) report identified Dell being involved in illegal exports of
electronic waste to other countries, where they are treated in unethical
ways.

Dell spokesperson applauded BAN’s efforts to
address the challenges faced by the electronics recycling industry. The
allegations will be taken seriously as it is a clear violation of Dell’s
Electronic Disposition Policy, she noted. The issue is being investigated and
actions would be taken to incorporate necessary steps in processes, she
added.

GPS Tracking

In a bid to track the e-waste from recycling
locations, BAN placed cell-phone sized GPS tracker devices to almost 200
non-functioning printers and monitors and dropped them at various locations
within the US during the second half of 2015. The organization has been tracking
these devices since then. Until now, 62 pieces of equipment have ended up in
countries where e-waste imports are banned by law. This equates to almost one
third of the total devices tracked during this period. The BAN report also
stated that most of these devices ended up in Hong Kong. It warned that more
devices could have been exported out of the US, but might not have been
accounted for due to technical issues such as reception issues, equipment
failure or damaged batteries.

Dell’s violation of
policy

According to BAN report, 46 out of the 200
tracker-attached electronic devices were delivered to Goodwill stores, with whom
Dell partners for recycling of electronics waste. Seven of these were later
traced in Asian countries including Thailand, China and Taiwan. Out of this, six
were part of Dell-Reconnect recycling partnership with Goodwill. Dell had long
been claiming that all the used electronics collected as part of the program
were recycled by Goodwill, thereby saving landfills from toxic waste. As per
company policy, all end-of-life electronics must be recycled within the US.
However, GPS Tracking revealed that the company was involved in exporting
e-waste to other countries, where there exists ban on e-waste imports.

Loss of reputation

BAN executive director Jim Puckett in a statement
noted that it was quite unfortunate and shocking to note that reputed firms like
Dell and Goodwill were involved in illegal e-waste exports out of the US. He
called for more transparency in their e-waste policies and urged them to
implement urgent changes in their e-waste management policies to ensure that
such incidents are never repeated. Surprisingly, Goodwill was found to have no
policy in place against exporting to developing countries.

Reality unveiled

The BAN investigation revealed that the tracked
equipment had travelled to 10 different countries including China, Taiwan,
Pakistan, Mexico, Thailand, Cambodia and Kenya. However, most of the devices
ended up in Hong Kong’s New Territories region near the Chinese border. The
region comprises of so-called e-waste processing facilities where e-waste is
treated in the most unethical way. The hundreds of employees, mostly Chinese
with no valid stay documents, are exposed to toxic chemicals that pose serious
health risks. These facilities were found operating under dangerous
circumstances. Several fires were reported at junkyards where dumped waste was
being stored for dismantling.

Alarm bells

A recent report published by the United Nations
Environment Programme (UNEP) had noted that nearly 60% to 90% of the world’s
electronic waste are traded or dumped illegally. The report had stated that
Africa and Asia are the key destinations of hazardous electronic waste. Also,
the ‘Global Waste Management Outlook’ launched by UNEP in partnership with the
International Solid Waste Association had warned that waste volumes are likely
to double in lower-income Asian and African cities by 2030.

About BAN

Founded in 1997, the Basel Action Network is a
501(c)3 charitable organization of the United States, based in Seattle, WA. BAN
is the world's only organization focused on confronting the global environmental
justice and economic inefficiency of toxic trade and its devastating impacts.
Today, BAN serves as the information clearinghouse on the subject of waste trade
for journalists, academics, and the general public.